Dear Editor:

Annual budget season is upon us.

There are serious concerns regarding the Edgecomb Eddy School proposed FY 26/27 budget.

Facts:

1. The number of Edgecomb resident students has been in steady decline since 2010.

2. Except for a small payment of $23,465, Edgecomb essentially paid off the school mortgage in the 2020-21 school year.

3. In June of 2021 the Edgecomb school system accelerated loan payoff of the two new buses, whose expected useful life is 10 years and 125,000 miles.

4. Given no major new capital expenses and a decreasing resident student population, growth in school expenses should be moderate and well controlled.

5. From 2020 to 2025 the Edgecomb actual school expenses have increased by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.13%, far exceeding the rate of inflation every year except 2022 when inflation reached 7% in New England.

This raises several serious questions:

1. Why does the school board propose increasing expenses by an even higher rate of 9.2% for next year?

2. With a 7.78% CAGR of transportation and buses expenses since 2020 and buses far below their expected useful life, why are we being told we need to lease new buses?

3. With a 10.57% CAGR of Facilities Maintenance expenses since 2020, why are we now being told we need $371,480 in Facilities Maintenance plus $275,000, through a separate warrant, without a detailed explanation of work and itemized estimates of the expected costs?

4. Why has it not been explained to taxpayers that in FY2023 the school exceeded its approved budget by $495,199, requiring the Edgecomb Select Board on June 13, 2023 to approve an emergency transfer of $100,000 out of reserve funds to help cover this overrun.

Clearly, new leadership is required.

Leadership that acknowledges taxpayers’ right to know how their money is being spent.

Leadership that understands over a third of our population lives on fixed income.

Leadership that plans for the future and avoids the errors of the past.

Leadership with the discipline and competence for responsible fiscal management, and for improving educational outcomes.

Frederick Steadman

Edgecomb